Karen C.
Yelp
It's only been a year since Riley's has been around, but boy, has it filled a sandwich-sized hole in our hearts and bellies that we didn't even know was there! Riley's is a sandwich spot for foodies, dog parents, dog lovers, and a dog's paradise!
Bomb sandwiches + superb customer service + chance sighting of some regulars who are part of Riley's Pack and featured on the wall - it's always such a pleasant experience!
And Riley's is the rare instance where the quality and taste of the food matches, nay, ~surpasses~ the social media game (which is incredibly strong).
The sandwiches: I've said it before and I'll say it again. What takes a sandwich from good to EXCELLENT? A flavorful filling is of course a must, but what makes a sandwich next level is the attention paid to the bread sandwiching that filling. You've got to have good bread. It's imperative! And Riley's understands the assignment! It's a crusty but still soft bread, lightly toasted before stuffed to the gills with delicious and hearty goodness! They sous vide cook their proteins which makes for moist (sorry) and flavorful steak and chicken. The spicy giardiniera is indeed spicy (medium to hot) but my god - I'm going to have to ask them to jar it up for me because I need that on everything I eat! So flavorful, not overly oily, al dente veggies, clean heat. Perfection. And the vegetarian and vegan sandwiches are NOT an afterthought. My veggie/vegan friends LOVE their sandwiches and might go there weekly.
The corned beef reuben on rye. My absolute favorite sandwich so far is unfortunately a seasonal. Can every month have St. Patrick's Day?! Hope they bring it back next year, and don't sleep on it!
Steakin' Bacon - such a wonderful amount of steak for a steak lover with lots of other fixin's - I wish the special sauce was a little more flavorful because it gets lost with all the goodies on that sandwich.
Terrible City - a little too salty for my tastes because of the beer cheese + dill pickle chips combo. But I'm a salt-sensitive flower.
Cajun Chicken - def has that smokey vibe I look for in cajun-style.
Steak & Avo - I wish the aji verde was also a little bolder - maybe more cilantro and garlic, more of a chimichurri style, but only because it's trying desperately to shine on a stage of standouts.
Oh, and there's homemade Riley's Fave - organic chicken and veggies - so that your doggo has something special to eat too! My dog is a diva and very picky, and she gobbles Riley's Fave up like I haven't fed her in days.
The venue: It's a bright, clean space with just a few areas to sit - one bartop along the window with 4 stools, and two long benches. You can order at the counter or on the toast app. The kitchen is hidden in the back (with its own HVAC system) so there is usually 1-2 runners who bring orders that are ready to the customer. The whole place is so instagrammable, including a changing photo backdrop, and my favorite detail is and will always be Riley's Pack: The Wall of Fame featuring all the canine regulars.
The service: Every employee genuinely seems to love their job, and they LOVE the dogs. Service with a smile - a lot goes a long way!
Giving back: The owners have such kind hearts and they've been featuring a charity every month with a chance to win free sandwiches for a month with every donation. They feature local artisans for dog-related swag that I literally have to tear myself away from because I want all the things!
All in all, you can't go wrong with Riley's, and John and Jessica deserve every success! Can't wait for Riley's Social House to open soon!